According to The Daily Mail, the Chelsea players want West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola to take the reins after Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked as manager on Monday.

Furthermore, the Stamford Bridge stars are also eager for Steve Clarke to return as the Blues' first-team coach, having left last year to join his former team-mate at Upton Park.

Zola, regarded by many as Chelsea's greatest ever player, would naturally be a popular choice with the fans, especially given his recent success with the Hammers.

Under the Italian's guidance, the Green Street club have vaulted up to eighth in the Premier League after the rocky period that followed Alan Curbishley's departure early in the season.

Few would dare dismiss Clarke's role in that turnaround.

During his last years with the Pensioners, the Scot was widely credited with keeping the team together after Jose Mourinho quit. In the end, only Manchester United prevented Avram Grant's side from claiming Premier League and Champions League honours in 2007-08.

And one would be loath to call it a coincidence that Chelsea's form has suffered considerably since Clarke trade the Bridge for the Boleyn Ground.

However, Zola said earlier this week that he was determined to repay West Ham's faith in him, meaning a return to his old stomping ground looks unlikely at the moment.

Furthermore, Roman Abramovich & Co. are deep in talks with Russia coach Guus Hiddink, who is expected to take charge of the team until the summer.